Greenwood named in Jamaica’s 2024 Copa America squad

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Head Coach of Jamaica’s male football team Heimir Hallgrimsson has listed Mason Greenwood in his 27-man squad for Jamaica’s pre-Copa America training camp.

The ex-Manchester United star is eligible to play for Jamaica through his father Andrew even though the player had featued for England before.

Greenwood has represented England’s senior team once. He was a 78th-minute substitute during a UEFA Nations League game against Iceland on September 5, 2020.

FIFA rules state that players can switch international allegiance as long as they have made fewer than three senior appearances for one nation before the age of 21.

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The football governing body rules also made clear that players can switch international allegiance if they have not played for a particular nation for at least three years.

In 2023, Hallgrimsson expressed his desire to have Greenwood in his Jamaican team. The 56-year-old Icelandic dentist and manager confirmed he had spoken to the player about a switch.

“I would love to have him in my team. Like all coaches, I would like to have the best players in our team, but it’s always up to the player himself if he wants to do it,” Hallgrimsson said during a press conference.

Mason Greenwood loaned out by Manchester United after difficult last months at Old Trafford

Greenwood left the Red Devils last August after United announced the 22-year-old would no longer play for the club. He joined La Liga club Getafe for the 2023/24 season, scoring eight goals and creating six assists in 33 outings.

United’s decision to part ways with the forward came after a long-drawn internal investigation. It began in February, 2023 after the UK Crown Prosecution Service discontinued its case against Greenwood.

The initial case was for attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and controlling and coercive harm, and controlling and coercive behaviour. However, Mason Greenwood denied all the charges.

Some familiar names included in the squad include Leon Bailey, Bobby Reid, Ethan Pinnock, Demarai Gray, and Mason Holgate.

Jamaica at the Copa América

This will be the third time Jamaica will be taking part in the Copa America – to be hosted by USA from June to July, 2024.

The ‘Reggae Boyz’ made their debut appearance in the Copa América tournament in 2015. They finished last in a group that had Paraguay , Uruguay, and Argentina.

In 2016, Jamaica took part in the Copa América Centenario. This was after they were crowned champions of the 2014 Caribbean Cup. However, they finished last in their group yet again after a 3-0 mauling at the hands of Uruguay.

To seal a place in the 2024 Copa América, Jamaica reached the semifinals of the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A. This was after they knocked out Canada in the quarterfinals.